Turkish Tea Glass Guide: Sizes, Styles and Care

Turkish tea glasses are small, thin-waisted tulip glasses, usually holding between about 90 and 170 ml, served on a small saucer with a teaspoon and sugar cubes. Smaller glasses keep each serving hot and let you pour often; larger ones suit people who prefer fewer refills.

Below we explain the shape, the sizes you will come across, what to pair the glasses with and how to care for them, so you can pick the right set for your table.

The ince belli shape

The classic Turkish tea glass is called ince belli, meaning "thin-waisted". It widens at the top, narrows in the middle and rounds out again at the base, like a tulip. The shape is practical as well as pretty:

• You hold it by the rim. The narrow waist and the space left at the top give your fingers a cooler place to grip, since the glasses usually have no handle.
• The tea stays hot. The rounded base holds most of the tea, and the narrowing helps it keep its heat.
• You can see the colour. Clear glass shows off the deep red tavşan kanı colour that tells you the tea is brewed well. Our guide on how to brew Turkish tea explains how to get it.

You will also find straighter, modern shapes, optic patterns cut into the glass, tinted bases and glasses with a handle. Paşabahçe's Keyif set, for example, has a handle for those who find a hot rim uncomfortable.

Turkish tea glass sizes

Capacities are often listed in cc, which is the same as ml. Across our Turkish tea glasses collection, the range looks like this:

• Around 90 ml – small, traditional glasses, such as the Paşabahçe Kandilli set. Good for strong tea and frequent refills.
• 120–145 ml – the everyday middle ground: Paşabahçe Üsküdar, Thin-Waist, Vefa and Keyif.
• 160–170 ml – a generous modern size, common in sets such as Paşabahçe Aida, Miss and Timeless and LAV Lal, Eda and Odin.
• Around 200 ml – larger glasses like the Perotti Emirgan set, for those who want a bigger serving.

Which size should you choose?

If you grew up with tea in Türkiye, you may find that a glass of roughly 100–130 ml feels most familiar. If you are new to Turkish tea, or you serve it alongside a long breakfast, a 160–170 ml glass means fewer trips to the teapot. Practices vary between regions and families, so there is no wrong answer. Just remember that glasses are normally filled to a little below the rim.

Saucers, spoons and full sets

Saucers

The saucer catches drips, holds a sugar cube or two and the spoon, and keeps hot glass off the table. Some glasses are sold on their own, with saucers available separately; Paşabahçe offers plain glass saucers and matching saucers for some ranges, and each product page gives the diameter. If you want everything to match, a set with saucers is simpler.

Spoons

Turkish tea spoons are small and slim so they fit in the glass and rest neatly on the saucer. Some ACAR sets include spoons, and some include a tray as well.

Complete sets

A full set for six is typically 12 pieces: six glasses and six saucers. Our Turkish tea sets include 12-piece glass sets from Paşabahçe, LAV and Perotti, gold-accented sets from Özlife and ACAR, the Paşabahçe Lace set, and 2-person ACAR sets for couples or a small table.

Paşabahçe vs LAV: what is the difference?

Both are Turkish glassware brands, and both make the everyday tea glasses you see in homes and tea houses across Türkiye.

• Paşabahçe is one of Türkiye's best-known glassmakers, named after the Istanbul neighbourhood on the Bosphorus where its glassworks began in the 1930s. We carry a wide range of its tea glasses, from the small Kandilli to the Aida, Miss and Timeless designs, along with glass saucers.
• LAV focuses on clean, contemporary shapes. Its tea glasses in our store are mostly around 170 ml, including the Lal and Eda sets of six, the Odin 12-piece set and the Zen set with a tinted base.

In practice, choose by shape and size rather than brand. Both are made for daily use.

You will also see Perotti borosilicate glass sets. Borosilicate glass is known for handling sudden temperature changes better than ordinary glass, which some people like for very hot tea.

How to care for tea glasses and gold rims

1. Warm the glass first. Pouring boiling tea into a cold glass can stress it. A splash of hot water first, or pouring the tea gently, helps.
2. Hand wash gold and decorated glasses with mild soap and a soft sponge. Gold and metallic finishes can fade with harsh detergents and abrasive scrubbers.
3. Keep metallic trims out of the microwave.
4. Remove tea stains with a little baking soda or a soak in warm water with a splash of white vinegar, then rinse.
5. Dry and polish with a lint-free cloth to avoid water spots, especially in hard-water areas.

For plain glass, check each product page for dishwasher guidance.

Frequently asked questions

How many ml is a Turkish tea glass?

Most hold between about 90 and 170 ml. Traditional thin-waisted glasses are often at the smaller end, while many modern sets are 160–170 ml.

Why are Turkish tea glasses shaped like tulips?

The thin waist lets you hold the glass near the rim without burning your fingers, the rounded base keeps the tea hot, and the clear glass shows the tea's colour.

Do Turkish tea glasses come with saucers?

Some do and some do not. A 12-piece set usually includes six glasses and six saucers; glass-only sets list six pieces, and saucers can be bought separately.

Can I pour boiling tea into Turkish tea glasses?

Yes, that is how they are used, but avoid shocking a very cold glass. Warm it with a little hot water first or pour gently.